Tactical Self‐Enhancement

People strive for positive self‐esteem and are motivated to think well of themselves in comparison to others as evidenced by their tendency to rate themselves as better than average on a variety of abilities, traits, and personal characteristics. Self‐enhancement is particularly likely when individuals are threatened, fail, or suffer a blow to their self‐esteem. Self‐enhancement strategies include inflated self‐presentations that promote individuals’ self‐esteem, downplaying the value of skills that they lack, and criticizing others whose achievements threaten their sense of accomplishment.